The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a surprise appearance at the BAFTA Film Awards, with the late Queen’s favourite fictional character also in attendance
The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a surprise appearance at the awards this evening(Image: WireImage)
When Prince William made a surprise appearance at the BAFTA Film Awards today (February 22), it marked a full-circle moment involving one very famous bear.
The Prince and Princess of Wales delighted fans as they made their appearance on the red carpet for the biggest night in British film amid speculation about whether or not they would attend. With Paddington also confirmed as a special guest and presenter at this year’s ceremony, royal fans will remember the sweet connection the popular character had with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
In September 2022, just days after the Queen’s funeral, William and Catherine, Princess of Wales visited Windsor Guildhall to thank the volunteers and operational staff who had worked tirelessly during the period of national mourning.
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The sweet sketch went viral after Queen Elizabeth II died(Image: BUCKINGHAM PALACE/AFP via Getty)
Dressed in black and still observing the royal mourning period, the newly titled Prince and Princess of Wales met around 30 volunteers – from St John Ambulance workers to Crown Estate staff and local council teams – who had helped manage the vast crowds that descended on Windsor.
It was during that visit that William offered a rare glimpse into grieving his grandmother. Speaking to members of a logistics team, he reflected on how public mourning had affected him.
“If you flip it on its head, it is always very comforting that so many people care,” he said. “It makes it a lot better.”
But he also admitted that certain unexpected moments proved overwhelming. “There are certain moments that catch you out. You are prepared for all but certain moments catch you out,” he said. “It is the things you don’t expect that get to you.”
Paddington tributes appeared after the Queen’s death in 2022(Image: Getty Images)
Among those moments was the sea of Paddington Bear tributes left outside royal residences after her sweet sketch earlier that year.
The beloved fictional bear had become a symbol of remembrance following the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee sketch, in which she shared tea and a marmalade sandwich with him. After her death, mourners left thousands of Paddington toys and handwritten notes alongside floral tributes.
William confessed that seeing them made him “choked up”. He later lightened the mood by joking there was now a “competition” between Paddington and the late Queen’s corgis – adding that Paddington was “a new addition” while “the corgis have been there for longer”.
Fast-forward to 2026 and Paddington is once again centre stage – this time at the BAFTA Film Awards.
The 2026 ceremony, airing live on BBC One and iPlayer at 7pm, sees Paddington both attending and presenting during the star-studded event.
Hosted by Alan Cumming, the evening celebrates the best in British and global cinema, with presenters including Aimee Lou Wood, Stormzy, Gillian Anderson, Bryan Cranston, Alicia Vikander, Regé-Jean Page, Hannah Waddingham and Riz Ahmed.
William and Kate made an unexpected appearance at tonight’s ceremony, delighting guests and viewers. The Prince of Wales has long been connected to BAFTA in his role as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
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